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Help Diagnosing Problems

It's my second year growing and I luv it!  I'm having some issues and hope some of you veterans can help me diagnose them and fix them.  I've planted 13 pots with 40 plants, most of them of the scorching variety like Bhut Jolokia, Scotch Bonnet, Carolina Reaper and Fatali;  also some more mellow types and more traditional types.  They were planted 4-6 weeks ago in potting soil, and I'm based in San Diego coastal area.  Note that it has been an unusually cool and overcast spring out here in SoCal.
 
I'm having an issue with yellowed leaves, brown leaf edges that look burnt, completely stunted growth, and plants that look like they were denuded by a bark beetle.  Note that not all of my plants are having issues by the way. 
 
I'm hoping for some advice.   I am spraying them with a Sevin insecticide weekly and fertilizing them with dry granular organic fertilizer every four weeks.  Before planting, I soaked each root ball for 5 minutes in a liquid mixture of Kellogg fish and kelp fertilizer, 2 Tbps to the gallon, as advised by the grower.
 
Could the problem be the potting soil I used?  I notice that it has wood bark in the ingredients.
 
For those who want more details, here they are.  I've posted pictures of each problem plant.
 
Problem Plants
 
Scotch Bonnet -- older leaves are yellowed with burnt edges but otherwise looks healthy; has hardly grown in 6 weeks
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate -- yellowed leaves
Fatali -- growing well but yellowed leaves, some mottling of the yellowed leaves
Habanero -- growing well with buds and tiny fruits already, but yellowed leaves
Orozco -- spindly and nearly bare -- these are the only ones who look like this out of 40 plants
Bhut Jolokia White -- hasn't grown, yellowed mottled leaves, has looked unhealthy since a week after planting
 
Plants Looking Good
 
Red Savina
Bhut Jolokia Red -- modest growth but looks healthy
Habanero Chocolate -- growing vigorously
Carolina Reaper
Ethiopian Brown -- growing vigorously
Aji Colorado -- growing vigorously
Jalapeno -- growing vigorously
Anchor Poblano -- doing great
Fresno -- doing great
 
Scotch Bonnet.jpg
Bhut Jolokia Chocolate.jpg
Fatali.jpg
Habanero.jpg
Habanero.jpg
Bhut Jolokia White.jpg

 
 
 
 
 

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  • Orozco.jpg
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Have you tried spraying with Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) solution? About one teaspoon per gallon.
 
 I do not have any experience with Kellogg fertilizers, but a couple years ago, I used Kellogg Organic potting mix for a raised bed with bell peppers. All eight of the plants were very sickly looking, and the few peppers that actually developed were small and deformed. Personally, I avoid Kellogg products based on that experience.
 
I use Alaska fish in combination with either Neptunes Harvest or GS Plant Foods liquid kelp at 80% of recommended strength every week once my plants are established after plant out.
 
alkhall said:
Have you tried spraying with Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) solution? About one teaspoon per gallon.
 
 I do not have any experience with Kellogg fertilizers, but a couple years ago, I used Kellogg Organic potting mix for a raised bed with bell peppers. All eight of the plants were very sickly looking, and the few peppers that actually developed were small and deformed. Personally, I avoid Kellogg products based on that experience.
 
I use Alaska fish in combination with either Neptunes Harvest or GS Plant Foods liquid kelp at 80% of recommended strength every week once my plants are established after plant out.
 
Thanks for the advice -- great info!  I just checked and realized that all my potting mix is Kellogg; it was the best value at Home Depot!  Can't change it now but I'll use something else next year.  I also am using Kellogg fish & kelp (with molasses!) and I'm wondering if this too is part of the problem.  I'll dispense with that too.
 
OK -- so weekly application of liquid fertilizer doesn't harm them.  Nice to know.
 
What is the purpose of spraying with Magnesium Sulfate?
 
 
The Kellogg potting mix is your main problem.

It's mostly bark and pine. I was really disappointed how it did with peppers and tomatoes.

I used it 2 yrs straight and it's just to acidic by itself for potting mix.
Often contributes to blossom end rot as well and water retention is terrible even using large NC 20 nursery pots.


Edited to include results info
 
Masher said:
The Kellogg potting mix is your main problem.

It's mostly bark and pine. I was really disappointed how it did with peppers and tomatoes.

I used it 2 yrs straight and it's just to acidic by itself for potting mix.
Often contributes to blossom end rot as well and water retention is terrible even using large NC 20 nursery pots.


Edited to include results info
What can I do to salvage this growing season?  Can I add anything to the fertilizing schedule that will make it work?  Or should I just transplant the ones that look piqued into new soil?

 
 
Derelict said:
 
Thanks for the advice -- great info!  I just checked and realized that all my potting mix is Kellogg; it was the best value at Home Depot!  Can't change it now but I'll use something else next year.  I also am using Kellogg fish & kelp (with molasses!) and I'm wondering if this too is part of the problem.  I'll dispense with that too.
 
OK -- so weekly application of liquid fertilizer doesn't harm them.  Nice to know.
 
What is the purpose of spraying with Magnesium Sulfate?
 
 

To clarify, I use ~five gallons of fish/kelp mixture at 80% of recommended strength for my entire raised bed, which is ~130 ft2.
 
It is not too late to change the potting mix, you just need to be careful depotting (is that word?) the affected plants.
 
I use a mixture of 5 parts ProMix Ultimate ((https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/compost-soils-amendments/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/compost-soils-amendments/pro-mix-reg-ultimate-organic-mix-1-cu-ft/1010071rg/p-1444451345240-c-1463608034794.htm?tid=5678142797770381575&ipos=2) but I do not belive there are any Menards store in Cali. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ultimate-2-cu-ft-All-Purpose-Growing-Mix-1020030RG/205360639) is probably the closest you could find) mixed with 2 parts extra coarse perlite for container plants.
 
The magnesium sulfate provides two micro-nutrients (magnesium and sulfur) which are absorbed through the leaves. I am not sure what exactly it does, but it has worked for me. Mind you, I only do it once, after the plants are established, but before they begin flower production. I mix it up in a pump sprayer and apply generously (not in direct sunlight!).
 
Derelict said:
What can I do to salvage this growing season?  Can I add anything to the fertilizing schedule that will make it work?  Or should I just transplant the ones that look piqued into new soil?
 
Dig them up carefully.

Dump out the pots and add some top soil, or any gardening bag soil.

Make your new mix 50/50. 50% Kellogg and 50% new bag mix.


Or 50% of Kellogg and 50% of any composted bag mix.


Gently replant and dilute and ferts by half for next 2 or 3 weeks.


You could try top dressing a couple inches of soil to each plant but the fix will be temporary at best.

Good luck, plenty of time to get it fixed and still harvest.

:cheers:
 
Masher said:
Dig them up carefully.

Dump out the pots and add some top soil, or any gardening bag soil.

Make your new mix 50/50. 50% Kellogg and 50% new bag mix.


Or 50% of Kellogg and 50% of any composted bag mix.


Gently replant and dilute and ferts by half for next 2 or 3 weeks.


You could try top dressing a couple inches of soil to each plant but the fix will be temporary at best.

Good luck, plenty of time to get it fixed and still harvest.

:cheers:
 
Clarifying points.  Some of the plants are hardy and robust, should I leave them alone?
 
How deep should I dig for the ailing plants?  They all game in standard 4" or 5" plastic containers.  Should I go down 6", 7", or another level? 
 
 
Whichever plants you choose to fix, remix the entire container.

Just try and get a decent rootball even if it's only the original store size plug with roots.


The Kellogg just wont be any good as a stand alone medium.

Trust me, I bought 20 bails of the stuff. Its bogus.


Edited for spelling grrrr
 
alkhall said:
 
To clarify, I use ~five gallons of fish/kelp mixture at 80% of recommended strength for my entire raised bed, which is ~130 ft2.
 
It is not too late to change the potting mix, you just need to be careful depotting (is that word?) the affected plants.
 
I use a mixture of 5 parts ProMix Ultimate ((https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/compost-soils-amendments/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/compost-soils-amendments/pro-mix-reg-ultimate-organic-mix-1-cu-ft/1010071rg/p-1444451345240-c-1463608034794.htm?tid=5678142797770381575&ipos=2) but I do not belive there are any Menards store in Cali. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ultimate-2-cu-ft-All-Purpose-Growing-Mix-1020030RG/205360639) is probably the closest you could find) mixed with 2 parts extra coarse perlite for container plants.
 
The magnesium sulfate provides two micro-nutrients (magnesium and sulfur) which are absorbed through the leaves. I am not sure what exactly it does, but it has worked for me. Mind you, I only do it once, after the plants are established, but before they begin flower production. I mix it up in a pump sprayer and apply generously (not in direct sunlight!).
OK, another question if I may.  The grower recommended both liquid and dry fertilizer;  the liquid applied for the first three weeks, then monthly; and the granular applied every 6-8 weeks.  Do you agree with this?
 
Also I purchased locally Kellogg liquid fish and kelp (2-2-2) and Nature's Care organic granular (10-2-8).  The grower recommended fish and kelp (3-4-3) and granular (3-2-3).  The nitrogen level of my granular sounds out of balance.  Do you recommend anything else?
 
Use one or the other. Weekly or by weekly feeding is plenty adequate.

Remember, less is more.

Changes will take 3weeks or more so be patient.

Happy growing :cheers:
 
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